In the USA there is more to the premium league than just Audi, BMW and Mercedes. Even with brands like Genesis, Cadillac or Volvo is not enough, because a luxury crossover like the Acura MDX rolls as a real success model on highways and country roads – emphasized relaxed with six cylinders and space for seven people.
The Acura MDX is largely unknown in Europe because Honda does not allow its in-house premium subsidiary Acura to travel to Europe in the first place. In its native USA, the Acura MDX, the top model of the Honda group, competes against high-tech SUVs such as the Audi Q7, Mercedes GLE or BMW X5 / X7 without any hesitation. The design is typical Acura and also more than a touch of Honda – just in noble. Narrow LED eyes, a pithy radiator grille and pleasing proportions – it’s no wonder that the Asian-American makes friends in the USA. With a starting price of $ 47,200 for the well-equipped SUV with a 290 hp V6 engine, it is significantly cheaper than a BMW X5, which starts at just under $ 60,000, or the Mercedes GLE, which costs at least $ 55,000. That brings him all kinds of customers who can do without high-tech engines and major innovations.
The Acura MDX is as chic as it is down to earth. Where the competition offers turbocharged six-cylinder, V8 power packs or plug-in hybrids, the Acura protects MDX customers from alternatives. But the 213 kW / 290 PS 3.5-liter V6 is a casual and powerful driver in everyday life. There is no avoiding the optional all-wheel drive for an extra $ 2,000, because otherwise the 5.04 meter long SUV will be powered solely by the front axle with impressive performance and a lot of zest for action. That does not fit and can hardly be overridden by the ten-speed automatic through sensitive gear changes when starting or accelerating strongly. For the time being, Honda does not offer a powerful turbo engine or a plug-in hybrid for its top model, the Acura MDX.
The chassis set-up is decidedly comfortable despite the optional 20-inch model with wide 255 mm tires, making the large Acura a real cruiser; one that lacks a bit of contact with the road surface by Honda standards, because both the power assistance of the steering is indirect and the high level of comfort is also in the foreground when rolling. A change to the sports program doesn’t change that. When driving briskly, the all-wheel drive understeers just as noticeably as willingly. The Acura MDX has no place in real terrain, because with its ground clearance of 18.5 centimeters and its front-inclined all-wheel drive, it is not for weekend off-road feelings. Therefore, the MDX rather mimics the family station wagon with a slightly raised seating position.
The elegant and well-crafted interior with plenty of space for four or five people fits in with the comfort of the 2,050-kilogram five-door model. Only the two emergency seats, which can be folded out of the cargo space if you like, are unreasonable for adults. But when the head of the family brings the crowd of children out of school from afternoon sports, the up to seven inmates can find their way home relatively comfortably thanks to the 2.89 meter long wheelbase. Practical: the middle seat in the second row can be expanded in a few simple steps and the MDX becomes a four- or six-seater. The loading volume is between 460 and 2,690 liters. In the normal seating for four to five people on two rows of seats, the MDX with 1,109 liters offers plenty of space behind the tailgate, which opens electrically quite slowly.
Drivers and fellow passengers are not only happy about the generous amount of space, but also about comfort and safety equipment that leaves little to be desired. Only a few Acura MDX 3.5 V6 are sold in the solid basic version, because the Technology, A-Spec or Adavance packages elevate the premium model to a real luxury version with air-conditioned leather seats, two 12.3-inch displays, and 10.5-inch head -Up display, WiFi and a stately nine charging options for small devices as well as an additional smartphone charging cradle in the wide center console. The operation of the menu via touch controller or by voice is not as intuitive as you know it from other brands, and the Acura is not as clear and technical as some others when it comes to displaying the menu content. A few fewer buttons on the steering wheel or the area under the automatic air conditioning would also make the X5 competitor appear more modern. On the other hand, the solution was very good: the numerous camera views and a great sound that comes from 16 speakers. But if you turn the music down, you can hear nothing more than the rustling of the airstream, thanks to the insulating glass inside.
Source From: Stern
I am a 24-year-old writer and journalist who has been working in the news industry for the past two years. I write primarily about market news, so if you’re looking for insights into what’s going on in the stock market or economic indicators, you’ve come to the right place. I also dabble in writing articles on lifestyle trends and pop culture news.
